History

The community referred to as South Hollis is actually situated with the northern tip of the St. Albans community boundaries. However, it is called the South Hollis community because it is directly south of the Hollis. The South Hollis Branch opened its doors in 1974. The community of Hollis wherein the branch takes its name was founded in 1885 by Frederick Denton. Frederick Denton intended to name the community Woodhull in honor of General Woodhull captured by the British in1776. The name Hollis was picked to honor his place of birth in New Hampshire.

Hollis landscape gradually changed as trolley service was extended into the area in 1897. Middle class houses gradually appeared around Victorian homes. In 1921, Row house construction further changes the community’s infrastructure. By World War II the residents primarily commuted to work. Taking advantage of the nearby LI Rail Road service.

The ethnic transformation of the Hollis community occurred after 1955. South of the Long Island Rail Road (South Hollis) residents were eighty percent African-American and Latin American by 1980. In the last twenty years, people from the countries of Guyana, Haiti, China, India, Columbia and Jamaica added to the community’s ethnic mix.

Source:

Seyfried, Vincent. “Hollis.” Encyclopedia of New York City. Yale University Press, 1995: 551

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